10 Mae Young Classic Wrestlers WWE Must Sign
Cherry-picking the best WWE's women's tournament has to offer.
It's hard to believe the Mae Young Classic is already nearing completion. The tournament debuted on 28 August, but WWE's decision to release the episodes four at a time means that only 12 September's live finale remains, with Shayna Baszler and Kairi Sane set to fight for the crown.
While the MYC's talent pool isn't as deep as last year's Cruiserweight Classic, WWE still did a great job in assembling a diverse, multi-talented group of performers. They've produced a number of good bouts together, particularly outwith the first round, and Sane vs. Baszler should be excellent. Both are among the tournament's biggest standouts, and they'll tear the house down if given enough time.
A number of MYC participants already call WWE their home promotion, but at least a dozen others would be great fits for NXT at the moment, and a handful look ready for the main roster. A swathe of signings would keep the company's women's division stocked for the foreseeable future, and if WWE follow the CWC's blueprint, there's a strong chance they've already prepared contracts for the top performers.
They won't all get deals, but each of the following would be an immediate boon to the company...
10. Tessa Blanchard
Just like Kay Lee Ray, Tessa Blanchard was eliminated from the Mae Young Classic entirely too early. Sure, tournament favourite Kairi Sane had to advance, but the company could have just booked her and Blanchard against different opponents to avoid this problem.
Their bout was one of the first round's biggest highlights, and while Sane stole the show, Tessa looked as good as she ever has. She worked heel throughout, generating a great deal of sympathy for her superstar opponent, but had plenty of time to shine throughout the back-and-forth affair, particularly during the fast-paced closing stretch.
She's only 22 years old, but Blanchard has been used by WWE multiple times in the past. She played squash match fodder for Carmella, Nia Jax, and Alexa Bliss in 2016, and her participation in the MYC shows that she hasn't left WWE's radar, despite her lack of recent usage. Sure, she's still a work in progress, but her youth, well-rounded skills, and flashy moveset mean she's a white-hot prospect, and the fact that she's WWE Hall of Famer Tully Banchard's daughter probably doesn't hurt either, given the company's love of 2nd and 3rd generation athletes.